Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Image from the Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County on Friday in Vero Beach.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Image from the Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County on Friday in Vero Beach.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Image from the Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County on Friday in Vero Beach.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Mary Miner, right, of Sebastian, Program Manager for the Education Foundation of Indian River County and Heidi Rynberg, left, of Vero Beach, sort through the list of schools that will receive backpacks for underprivileged children during the annual backpack distribution program by the foundation. Volunteers gather on Friday at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach to sort and load pallets of boxes which will be sent to 27 public and charter schools (K-12th). “I see this as a way to provide the children with fresh new supplies and a new backpack so they have the same things as their classmates. I think it helps them have a fresh outlook for the coming year,” Mary Miner said.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS “Volunteering is important to me. I find ways to get involved, meet people, jump in somewhere whether it is for church or school, I love it,” Heidi Rynberg of Vero Beach said on Friday as she tackles a pallet of boxes at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach which contain new backpacks filled with school supplies given by the Education Foundation of Indian River County to 27 public and charter schools (K-12th). Heidi’s husband, Andrew Rynberg, and she are new to Vero Beach. As the new Assistant Supervisor for Curriculum he heard about the program and told Heidi knowing that she would jump at the chance to help out in her new community.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Ben Tompkins, 15, left, of Vero Beach labels boxes on Friday at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach while helping the Education Foundation of Indian River County during its annual Backpack distribution program. Ben’s mother, Sue Tompkins, is the former Executive Director for the foundation so he is an enthusiastic volunteer adding the Sneaker Exchange, which takes place between September and May each year, and the Food Drive for the Harvest Food Center to his list of service activities. “It’s only a little bit of time and it helps the kids when school comes around,” Ben Tompkins said.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Image from the Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County on Friday in Vero Beach.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Mary Miner, right, of Sebastian, Program Manager for the Education Foundation of Indian River County and Heidi Rynberg, left, of Vero Beach, sort through the list of schools that will receive backpacks for underprivileged children during the annual backpack distribution program by the foundation. Volunteers gather on Friday at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach to sort and load pallets of boxes which will be sent to 27 public and charter schools (K-12th). “I see this as a way to provide the children with fresh new supplies and a new backpack so they have the same things as their classmates. I think it helps them have a fresh outlook for the coming year,” Mary Miner said.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Ben Tompkins, 15, left, of Vero Beach hauls some boxes on Friday at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach while helping the Education Foundation of Indian River County during its annual Backpack distribution program. Ben’s mother, Sue Tompkins, is the former Executive Director for the foundation so he is an enthusiastic volunteer adding the Sneaker Exchange, which takes place between September and May each year, and the Food Drive for the Harvest Food Center to his list of service activities. “It’s only a little bit of time and it helps the kids when school comes around,” Ben Tompkins said.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Ben Tompkins, 15, left, of Vero Beach and Program Manager of the Education Foundation of Indian River County, Mary Minor, right, of Sebastian, review the list of the 27 public schools and charter schools on Friday in Vero Beach at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach that will receive Backpacks from the Foundation during its annual Backpack distribution program. Ben’s mother, Sue Tompkins, is the former Executive Director for the foundation so he is an enthusiastic volunteer adding the Sneaker Exchange, which takes place between September and May each year, and the Food Drive for the Harvest Food Center to his list of service activities. “It’s only a little bit of time and it helps the kids when school comes around,” Ben Tompkins said.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS “This is the most rewarding responsibility I have every year,” T. Thompson of Indian Harbor Beach said. As Foreman for the Central Warehouse of the Support Service Complex, he helps volunteers pack, label and load boxes full of new backpacks and school supplies for the Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County on Friday in Vero Beach. “It’s a chance to give to the underprivileged kids brand new supplies and backpacks, something they might not be able to have,” T. Thompson said.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS “This is the most rewarding responsibility I have every year,” T. Thompson, middle, of Indian Harbor Beach, said. As Foreman for the Central Warehouse of the Support Service Complex, he helps volunteers pack, label and load boxes full of new backpacks and school supplies for the Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County on Friday in Vero Beach. Volunteer, Heidi Rynberg, foreground, of Vero Beach and Mary Miner, rear, of Sebastian, Program Manager for the foundation, sort boxes for each pallet. “It’s a chance to give to the underprivileged kids brand new supplies and backpacks, something they might not be able to have,” T. Thompson said.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Image from the Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County on Friday in Vero Beach.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Image from the Backpack distribution program by the Education Foundation of Indian River County on Friday in Vero Beach.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Ben Tompkins, 15, left, of Vero Beach hauls some boxes on Friday at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach while helping the Education Foundation of Indian River County during its annual Backpack distribution program. Ben’s mother, Sue Tompkins, is the former Executive Director for the foundation so he is an enthusiastic volunteer adding the Sneaker Exchange, which takes place between September and May each year, and the Food Drive for the Harvest Food Center to his list of service activities. “It’s only a little bit of time and it helps the kids when school comes around,” Ben Tompkins said.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS “Volunteering is important to me. I find ways to get involved, meet people, jump in somewhere whether it is for church or school, I love it,” Heidi Rynberg of Vero Beach said on Friday as she tackles a pallet of boxes at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach which contain new backpacks filled with school supplies given by the Education Foundation of Indian River County to 27 public and charter schools (K-12th). Heidi’s husband, Andrew Rynberg, and she are new to Vero Beach. As the new Assistant Supervisor for Curriculum he heard about the program and told Heidi knowing that she would jump at the chance to help out in her new community.

Mae Gammino

MAE GAMMINO/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS “Volunteering is important to me. I find ways to get involved, meet people, jump in somewhere whether it is for church or school, I love it,” Heidi Rynberg, right, of Vero Beach, said on Friday. She is helping Cynthia Falardeau, left, of Vero Beach, Executive Director of the Education Foundation of Indian River County, organize boxes of new backpacks filled with school supplies at the Support Service Complex in Vero Beach which are being given by the Foundation to 27 public and charter schools (K-12th). Heidi’s husband, Andrew Rynberg, and she are new to Vero Beach. As the new Assistant Supervisor for Curriculum he heard about the program and told Heidi knowing that she would jump at the chance to help out in her new community.